Gros Morne National Park of Canada

Park Management

Science in Action: Monitoring Projects

Estimating the size of the Arctic hare population in Gros Morne National Park of Canada, Newfoundland

Background

An Arctic hare in its winter coat, Gros Morne National Park of Canada, Newfoundland. © Parks Canada / Roger Eddy

In Canada, Arctic hare occur in tundra areas and reach their southernmost limit of distribution on the Island of Newfoundland (Banfield 1974), where they are found in relatively low numbers (Hearn et al. 1987). In Gros Morne National Park of Canada (GMNPC), Arctic hare can be found in a variety of upland habitats on the northern Long Range Mountains. Partly because of the remoteness of their habitat and their low densities, the status of Arctic hare in GMNPC has been unclear. Early investigations suggested there were only a few dozen Arctic hare inhabiting the park (Wood 1974). This was of concern, since Arctic hare on insular Newfoundland breed only once per year and average just three young per litter (Hearn et al. 1987). Accurate information on population size and distribution was necessary so that appropriate management decisions could be made to ensure the continued presence of Arctic hare in the park. A survey technique was developed to estimate the number of Arctic hare in the park. This technique is being used to monitor the size of the park's Arctic hare population through time.

Goals

• Monitor the Arctic hare population in GMNPC by estimating the number of hare every 2-3 years.
  

Project Description

The size of the Arctic hare population in Gros Morne National Park of Canada is determined during a winter and early spring survey. Using snowmobiles, a number of randomly selected 4 km² areas are systematically searched for Arctic hare. The number of Arctic hare flushed or located in each area, are used to estimate the number of hare in the park. Using this technique, recent surveys suggest there are more hare in the park than was previously believed and that the population has been increasing over the last few years.

Figure 2. Estimated number of Arctic hare inhabiting Gros Morne National Park of Canada, Newfoundland, for the years 1997, 1999, and 2000. For an accessible text-based description of this graph click here. © Parks Canada

This increase may be part of a normal population cycle, however the periodicity of the cycle and the size of the Arctic hare population at the high and low ends of the cycle remain unknown. This information is essential in order to manage activities that could pose a risk to the hare population, particularly during low population periods. To better understand Arctic hare population dynamics, monitoring of the hare population will continue. A census is scheduled for the winter of 2003.

Project Team (GMNPC)

References

Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. 438pp

Hearn, B. J., L. B. Keith, and O. J. Rongstad. 1987. Demography and ecology of the Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) in southwestern Newfoundland. Can. J. Zool. 65: 852-861.

Wood, T. J. 1974. The status of the Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland. Parks Canada. Unpublished. Report. 23pp.